Oak Bay athletes BC Games bound

When the BC Winter Games descend on Kamloops next week, it’ll feature a little Oak Bay flavour.

A handful of local athletes will make the trip in a variety of both indoor and outdoor sports.

The BC Winter Games are in Kamloops from Feb. 22 to 25 and feature Special Olympics BC athletes and 20 coaches for the chance to showcase their skills in front of their peers from generic sports.

“Kamloops hosted the very first BC Winter Games, so it is fitting to return to Canada’s Tournament Capital as part of our 40th anniversary celebrations,” said Kelly Mann, president and CEO of the BC Games Society. “The athletes, coaches, and officials will benefit from the extensive event hosting experience in Kamloops. These BC Winter Games and the coinciding Olympic Winter Games will inspire many of these young athletes towards future national and international level competitions.”

Among the 1,768 participants are Oak Bay competitors Riley Torstensen in badminton, Paige McKinlay in wheelchair basketball and Maya Kjurickovic and Ian Taylor in alpine skiing. Oak Bay resident Tess van Straaten serves as head coach for the Island’s Special Olympics figure skating team on which Oak Bay Figure Skating Club members Emily Walzak and Desiree Grubell will compete.

The 1,229 athletes are from every corner of the province and compete in 19 different sports. The athletes are an average of 14 years old and for most, this will be their first experience at a multi-sport Games. Special Olympians will compete in basketball and figure skating and athletes with a disability will compete in cross country skiing and wheelchair basketball.

The athletes are supported by 342 coaches and 197 officials who have earned their certification in order to provide the best knowledge and expertise to the athletes and the competition.

Volunteers in Kamloops have been preparing for the past 18 months to host the Games. More than 1,600 volunteers are ready to ensure participants have exceptional competition and a first-rate experience with ceremonies, special events, and hospitality.

“We are ready! I am immensely proud of the volunteer team that has invested hundreds of hours to ensure that every athlete, coach, official, and parent has an unforgettable experience in Kamloops,” said Niki Remesz, President 2018 Kamloops BC Winter Games. “The pinnacle of these Games’ can be credited to 40 years of BC Games success provincially and a labour of love, locally, from our team’s passion and expertise in leading. I’m excited that Kamloops will be the beginning of that story for so many young athletes joining us next month.”